Village Shoes: Putting Style in Your Step for 20 Years

October 2018

“Give a girl the right pair of shoes, and she can conquer the world.” Flawed gender references notwithstanding, Marilyn Monroe’s sentiment is one that countless people can get in step with.

And the staff of Village Shoes in Ashland couldn’t agree more, says owner Stacey Larnerd. Since 1998, the store has been helping people conquer the world, one stylish foot at a time.

Locally owned and operated, Village Shoes is a shoe shopper’s dream store. The shop carries brands too numerous to mention here, but includes Frye, Mix Mooz, Jafa, Rockport, and many others.

“I am proud to say that for 20 years, we have been an independent shoe store, focusing on quality and comfort,” says Stacey. “Our main desire is to bring our customers imported European fashion designed with modern comfort. We sell fabulous shoes!”

Stacey came to Ashland from New York in 1995. After spending the summer volunteering at Crater Lake National Park, she fell in love with Oregon and “picked Ashland as my place to call home. I’ve loved it ever since.”

During and after high school in New York, she had worked at and managed a shoe store. When she arrived in Ashland and was looking for full time work, she saw a help wanted sign in the window of Village Shoes for a sales associate job opening. “I knew I could do the job, so I applied,” Stacey said. “The rest, as they say, is history.”

Within five years she got the opportunity to buy the business and has owned and operated it ever since.

The store is known for its exceptional service, says Stacey. “We greet each customer with a warm welcome. I am proud of my knowledgeable staff who focus on each person’s needs, and who provide a relaxed and fun environment. And we have an outstanding collection of unique shoes that are both functional and fashionable.”

In addition to a wide selection of shoes and boots, the store carries “amazing handbags, scarves, socks, jewelry, wallets, footcare, insoles, and more,” Stacey said. She takes special pride in the artful displays that make up the store’s interior and windows: “People often comment on how beautiful our displays are. We have everything displayed on old antique furniture, comfy couches and sitting areas for trying on, and we feature artwork for sale on our wall from local Oregon artists.”

For more information, the phone number is 541-482-1321. The website is village-shoes.com, and you can also like them on Facebook.